Friday, March 17, 2017

Yokohama, Fukushima approved as venues for baseball and softball at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Yokohama, Fukushima approved as venues for baseball and softball at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Press release World Baseball Softball Confederation.

PYEONGCHANG, Rep. of Korea — Fukushima’s Azuma Baseball Stadium has
been added as an official venue for Olympic baseball and softball events
at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The International Olympic Committee approved the 30,000-seat venue at
its executive board meetings today in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea.

The Fukushima proposal was put forward in a collaboration between
hosts Tokyo 2020 and the world governing body of baseball and softball,
WBSC. The region was devastated by the 2011 Great East Japan
Earthquake. Tokyo 2020 and WBSC will work together on a plan to stage
Olympic baseball and softball matches featuring Japan’s National Teams
in Fukushima.

“By hosting Olympic baseball and softball events, Fukushima will have
a great platform to show the world the extent of its recovery in the 10
years since the disaster,” said Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori.

“WBSC congratulates Tokyo 2020 President Mori and IOC President Bach
on this great step taken with Olympic baseball and softball as a vehicle
to inspire hope and highlight the regeneration in Fukushima,” WBSC
President Riccardo Fraccari said. “It is a tremendous honour and a duty
we take very seriously to be a part of something so meaningful — to
serve the Olympic Movement and to use the power of sport to shape a
better world. It is in this wonderful spirit that WBSC held the U-15
Baseball World Cup last year in Iwaki, Fukushima.”

Azuma Stadium has hosted games of Japan’s premier sports league,
Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), and will undergo renovation under
local authorities.

Yokohama Stadium was previously confirmed as the main venue for baseball and softball events at the Olympic Games in 2020.

WBSC will continue its analysis on the tournament format and
qualification methodology for the 2020 Olympic baseball and softball
events